"The team has moved quickly and simultaneously to the quake-hit locations in Palu and Donggala, bringing relief aid. The team has to cover the distance for 10 to 12 hours. They are now still at the location to ensure that the assistance is distributed well," Director of BPJS Kesehatan for North Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi, Gorontalo, and North Maluku Lisa Nurena noted in a press statement made available to Antara here on Monday.
BPJS Kesehatan has coordinated with its deputies for North Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi, Gorontalo, and North Maluku (Suluttenggomalut) as well as the deputies for South Sulawesi, West Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, and Maluku (Sulselbaltramal) to immediately carry out Rapid Action by the BPJS Kesehatan branches for Manado, Tondano , Luwuk, Makassar, and Mamuju.
Up until now, the delivery of aid to Palu and Donggala has encountered difficulties, as the airport and port were damaged. Hence, helicopters and modes of land transportation must be deployed for the delivery of aid.
Limitations are still reportedly faced, as the land routes are partly affected by landslides, and the road is difficult to pass. Telephone communication has been affected, as most telecommunication towers are not yet operational.
However, the first batch of the BPJS Kesehatan Rapid Movement Team had arrived before dawn in the city of Palu and immediately set up an emergency post.
It delivered assistance in the form of basic necessities, medicines, first aid kits, tents, mattresses, blankets, baby food, baby diapers, milk, drinking water, clothing, toilet facilities, generators, and solar cell lamps, all collected from BPJS Kesehatan employees.
The assistance has begun to be distributed on Monday to several affected locations.
"Thank God, the assistance has continued to flow, including cash aid from BPJS Kesehatan officials throughout Indonesia and from external sources. Up until Sunday, the funds collected amounted to Rp223,803,808. We hope that this assistance would help ease the burden of the citizens of Palu and Donggala and offer them a new lease of hope to rise again," Nurena added.
Reporting by Aditya Ramadhan
Reporter: Andi Abdussalam
Editor: Otniel Tamindael
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